To mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday handed over community forest resource rights (CFRR) letters to 10 Gram Sabhas in areas which fall under two major Tiger Reserves.
At a function held here, he handed over the letters to the representatives from these villages. Out of the ten, five Gram Sabha falls under Achanakmar Tiger Reserve and five under Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve area, an official communication said.
Under Achanakmar Reserve, all five villages are in Mungeli district. Four villages are situated in the core area and one in the buffer area.
As per the letters, Mahamai Gram Sabha gets 1,384.056 hectares, Babutola Gram Sabha (1,191.6 hectares), Bamhani Gram Sabha (1663 hectares), Katami Gram Sabha (3240 hectares) and Manjuoraha Gram Sabha (661.74 hectares).
The Udanti-Sitanadi Reserve covers the districts of Dhamtari and Gariaband.
The community forest resource rights have been jointly recognized in three Gram Sabhas of Likhma, Baniyadih and Mainpur in 1811.53 hectares in Dhamtari district.
As per records, the village had a single boundary but with a rise in population, it was divided into three villages.
The other two Gram Sabhas fall under the buffer zone in the Udanti area, part of the Tiger Reserve in Gariaband district.
The villages are Kulhadighat (1,321.052 hectares) and Kathawa (1,254.57 hectares). Kulhadighat is the village which was adopted by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Thus, a total area of 12,527.548 hectares were handed over to the 10 Gram Sabhas. Achanakmar residents Anand Ekka, Phool Singh Baiga and others on receipt of the authorization letter from the Chief Minister, offered him honey while Udanti residents garlanded him with ‘Mahuwa’ to express their gratitude.